The 2008 documentary Homo Toxicus, directed by Carole Poliquin addresses the issue of toxins in our environment. Everyday several new chemicals are synthesized in labs across the world. Many of these chemicals have little to none known about their health effects. What health effects that are known are often conflicting, and are only known for that specific chemical. The combined health effects of all these chemicals on a body are not known. A chemical’s toxicity is often known at high concentrations, the lethal dosage is the dosage that is known to cause acute health effects. But more often than not chemicals can have adverse effects on the environment and our own bodies at very low levels. It is believed, as pointed out in the movie, that the increase in learning disorders is caused by low levels of toxins in the body of a developing child.
There are several examples of whole communities where negative health effects can be seen because of pollution of the food, water, or soil. The Inuit people of northern Canada have some of the highest mercury levels of any people. They have seen a disturbing number of children with hearing issues as result. In Ontario, a Indian reservation has been tracking the effects of the pollution spread local chemical companies on the health of their community. They have seen a trend of increasing miscarriages and male births are down by fifty percent, along with several other effects. I think between these two a examples I find the most convincing that something needs to be done to better regulate what chemicals are released into the environment.
Another example I found compelling was that of Health Canada firing three of its scientists for not approving of bovine growth hormone. This illustrates the power that corporations hold within a government. This needs to be somehow medicated, because the interests of a corporation are not always in line with those of the people. In turn a government controlled by a corporation, or even controlled by several corporations will not always pass legislation in the interest of the general public.
Another node of the matrix of problems shown in this movie, in the lack of knowledge people have about what’s going on in their own backyards. People seem to not understand the connection between their actions and environmental destruction. Although, many people know that plastic is not good for the environment we still buy several thousand bottles of water a day, this plastic can leach chemicals into the water inside the bottle, as well as leach harmful chemicals into the environment when disposed of, most notably BPA. BPA has been a controversial chemical for several years. In 2008 there were a hundred and fifty studies declare BPA toxic, though the united Sates and Canada still permitted its use. Legislation governing BPA’s use has hit a mile stone Canada has declared BPA toxic and limits it use in industry, as of October 13, 2010 (Austen, 2010). Cosmetics are another area in which people don’t realize what is actually in them. Several components in many cosmetics cause health problems after repeated and prolonged exposures (Foulds, 2009).
This video was a wonderful piece of environmental education as it explores the matrix of issues that we live with. Both
causes and effects of the decisions we make are addressed. I believe that the intended audience for this film was that of high school age students and up. It was well done, and there is a message in it that everyone can learn from.
The 2008 documentary Homo Toxicus, directed by Carole Poliquin addresses the issue of toxins in our environment. Everyday several new chemicals are synthesized in labs across the world. Many of these chemicals have little to none known about their health effects. What health effects that are known are often conflicting, and are only known for that specific chemical. The combined health effects of all these chemicals on a body are not known. A chemical’s toxicity is often known at high concentrations, the lethal dosage is the dosage that is known to cause acute health effects. But more often than not chemicals can have adverse effects on the environment and our own bodies at very low levels. It is believed, as pointed out in the movie, that the increase in learning disorders is caused by low levels of toxins in the body of a developing child.
There are several examples of whole communities where negative health effects can be seen because of pollution of the food, water, or soil. The Inuit people of northern Canada have some of the highest mercury levels of any people. They have seen a disturbing number of children with hearing issues as result. In Ontario, a Indian reservation has been tracking the effects of the pollution spread local chemical companies on the health of their community. They have seen a trend of increasing miscarriages and male births are down by fifty percent, along with several other effects. I think between these two a examples I find the most convincing that something needs to be done to better regulate what chemicals are released into the environment.
Another example I found compelling was that of Health Canada firing three of its scientists for not approving of bovine growth hormone. This illustrates the power that corporations hold within a government. This needs to be somehow medicated, because the interests of a corporation are not always in line with those of the people. In turn a government controlled by a corporation, or even controlled by several corporations will not always pass legislation in the interest of the general public.
Another node of the matrix of problems shown in this movie, in the lack of knowledge people have about what’s going on in their own backyards. People seem to not understand the connection between their actions and environmental destruction. Although, many people know that plastic is not good for the environment we still buy several thousand bottles of water a day, this plastic can leach chemicals into the water inside the bottle, as well as leach harmful chemicals into the environment when disposed of, most notably BPA. BPA has been a controversial chemical for several years. In 2008 there were a hundred and fifty studies declare BPA toxic, though the united Sates and Canada still permitted its use. Legislation governing BPA’s use has hit a mile stone Canada has declared BPA toxic and limits it use in industry, as of October 13, 2010 (Austen, 2010). Cosmetics are another area in which people don’t realize what is actually in them. Several components in many cosmetics cause health problems after repeated and prolonged exposures (Foulds, 2009).
This video was a wonderful piece of environmental education as it explores the matrix of issues that we live with. Both
causes and effects of the decisions we make are addressed. I believe that the intended audience for this film was that of high school age students and up. It was well done, and there is a message in it that everyone can learn from.
Bibliography
Austen, I. (2010, October 13). Canada Declares BPA, a Chemical in Plastics, to Be Toxic. Retrieved October 30, 2010, from The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/14/world/americas/14bpa.html
Foulds, J. (2009, September 29). Chemicals in Cosemetics Causes Concern. Retrieved October 30, 2010, from Environmental Defense: http://environmentaldefence.ca/blog/chemical-cosmetics-causes-concern
Poliquin, Carole. (Director). (2008). Homo Toxicus. [Motion Picture]
http://www.homotoxicus.com/english/index.htm